Watershed
Issues
By Dale Norrington, Master Gardener
Collectively, gardeners can significantly impact nonpoint source water
pollution, a current "hot topic" watershed issue on the central
coast.
Legislation specifies
beneficial uses for water contained in
Two general categories
of pollution must be controlled to meet these criteria: point source, and
nonpoint source.
Point sources of
pollution are relatively simple to identify and have been addressed for
decades. They include discharges from
well-defined sources such as pipes and ditches.
Nonpoint sources are
generally widespread, dispersed, more difficult to identify, and have generally
only more recently been addressed. They
often include water which washes off impervious surfaces such as rooftops,
patios, sidewalks, driveways, streets, and parking lots, as well as water which
washes across gardens, agricultural lands, and other areas with exposed soil
including construction, mining, and logging sites. They may include rural roads, and roads into
remote areas used for fire protection, logging, mining, and recreation.
Sediment, nutrients,
bacteria and viruses, and toxics including heavy metals, pesticides, and organic
chemicals may be present in water from nonpoint sources, and ultimately,
negatively impact ground water, streams, lakes, and inshore waters.
At issue may be
individual willingness to learn, and sometimes to change. An important change may be to take time to
read and follow label directions on pesticides and fertilizers, or to study,
gain understanding, and practice integrated pest management procedures. Mulching, erosion control, use of native
plants and porous paving materials, on site retention of runoff, appropriate
disposal of excess pesticides, fertilizers, paint, oil, lacquer, gas, and their
containers are all ways gardeners can have positive impact.